Wheeled load transfer device

ABSTRACT

A wheeled load transfer device comprising a load containing member, a handle assembly and a pair of wheels affixed at opposite sides of said load containing member; said load containing member open at a first loading end and provided with a rear discharge door; said device adapted for scooping movement along a ground surface.

The present invention relates to load carrying devices and, moreparticularly, to wheeled, manually operated devices.

BACKGROUND

Various wheeled devices have been devised for transferring quantities ofloose material, such as for example sand, soil, road base, gravel andcompost, from one location to another. Probably the best known and mostused is the common single wheeled wheelbarrow.

A disadvantage of the wheelbarrow is that the material to be transportedin it must be raised to a level where it can be deposited into the bodyof the barrow. This requires considerable repetitive strain on the backof a user in shovelling the material over the rim of the barrow body.

Further disadvantages of a common wheelbarrow, include that a fullyladen barrow is awkward to wheel, taking considerable skill andstrength. Also, the emptying of the barrow, unless effected by laboriousshovelling out of its contents, requires tilting the barrow load overthe wheel centre to allow the contents to slide out. Again, this is anoperation requiring strenuous effort from a user. Thus, particularly forpeople with weak, or lower back injuries, the effective use of awheelbarrow for the purposes of transporting loads of material isvirtually precluded.

It is an object of the present invention to address or at leastameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Note

The term “comprising” (and grammatical variations thereof) is used inthis specification in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including”,and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided awheeled load transfer device comprising a load containing member, ahandle assembly and a pair of wheels affixed at opposite sides of saidload containing member; said load containing member open at a firstloading end and provided with a rear discharge door; said device adaptedfor scooping movement along a ground surface.

Preferably, said load containing member comprises opposing sideportions, a bottom portion and a rear end; said rear end provided withsaid rear discharge door.

Preferably, said rear discharge door is pivotally hinged proximate anupper edge of said discharge door.

Preferably, each wheel of said pair of wheels is mounted to a respectivewheel axle housing affixed to respective said opposing side portions;said wheels having a common axis.

Preferably, said handle assembly comprises first and second handlemembers and at least one cross member; said first and second handlemembers pivotally connected to respective said wheel axle housings.

Preferably, said handle assembly is pivotable about axes of said pair ofwheels; said handle assembly pivotable between at least one fixedposition latched to said load containing member and unlatched positions.

Preferably, said handle assembly is provided with a first latchingmechanism; said first latching mechanism adapted to releasably lock saidhandle assembly into said at least one fixed position relative said loadcontaining member.

Preferably, said rear discharge door is provided with a second latchingmechanism; said second latching mechanism adapted to releasing said reardischarge door from a closed load retaining position to an open loaddischarge position.

Preferably, each said first latching mechanism and said second latchingmechanism are operable by respective lever assemblies and respectivefirst and second cables; said lever assemblies mounted to respectivesaid handle members.

Preferably, when said first latching mechanism is released fromengagement with said load containing member, a front lip of said loadcontaining member is in contact with a supporting ground surfacesupporting said device, and wherein said bottom portion is at a slightupward inclination to said surface; said inclination sufficient toprovide clearance between a rear lower edge of said load containingmember and said supporting ground surface.

Preferably, said device may be urged into a scooping motion so as toload material from a volume of said material disposed on said groundsurface, into said load containing member; loading of said materialeffected without need of hand held implements.

Preferably, said first latching mechanism may be brought into engagementwith said load containing member by rotation upwardly of said handleassembly from said unlatched positions.

Preferably, said device is brought into an attitude for transportingsaid material in said load containing member by rotation downwardly ofsaid handle assembly; outer ends of said handle assembly then at aheight proximate the waist of an average user; said bottom portion ofsaid load containing member then inclined downwardly so as to securesaid material within said load containing member.

Preferably, said material is discharged from said load containing memberby operating said second latching mechanism to release said reardischarge door from said closed load retaining position to an opendischarge position.

Preferably, said load containing member is provided with an upperpartial cover segment; said cover segment provided with a secondlatching element adapted to releasably engage with said first latchingmechanism thereby to lock said handle assembly into a second fixedposition relative said load containing member; said second fixedposition adapted to provide a greater angle of downward inclination ofsaid bottom portion of said load containing member during discharge ofsaid material.

In a further broad form of the invention, there is provided a method forloading and transporting material by means of a wheeled load transferdevice; said method not requiring use of a spade or shovel or other handheld implement; said method including the steps of:

-   -   (a) unlatching a load containing member of said device from a        locked position relative a handle assembly so as to rotate said        load containing member into a scooping position relative said        handle assembly,    -   (b) urging said load containing member against a volume of        material disposed on a supporting ground surface so as to load        at least a portion of said material into said load containing        member,    -   (c) rotating said handle assembly upwardly to a latched fixed        position relative said load containing member,    -   (d) rotating said handle assembly downwardly to bring outer        portions of said handle assembly proximate the waist of an        average user,    -   (e) wheeling said transfer device to an unload destination,    -   (f) unlatching a rear discharge door from a first locked        position to rotate to a second open discharge position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a wheeledload transfer device according to the invention in a first latchedcondition,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 in a secondlatched condition,

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 when in apreferred loading configuration,

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 when in aload transfer configuration,

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 when in aload discharge configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a wheeled load transfer device 10comprises a load containing member or bucket 12, a pair of coaxialwheels 14 and 15 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 1) disposed atopposite sides of bucket 12, and a handle assembly 13. Wheels 14 and 15are preferably provided with pneumatic tyres.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 7, the wheel mounting position on bucket12 is such that the rear lower edge 23 of bucket 12 is clear of thesupporting ground surface 50 when the bucket is in the loading attitudeshown in FIG. 1 or in the transporting attitude shown in FIG. 7.

Bucket 12 comprises opposing, generally triangular-shaped sides 16 and17, a bottom 18 and rear discharge door 20, as can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4and 8. The front 22 of bucket 12 is open except for a short upper coversegment 24 (as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5). Preferably, the leadingfront edge 48 is provided with a replaceable wear strip (not shown).

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, wheels 14 and 15 are mounted to axlesprojecting from wheel axle housings 26 and 27, which in turn are affixedto the opposite sides 16 and 17 respectively of bucket 12. Pivotallymounted to wheel axle housings 26 and 27, and preferably pivoting aboutthe axes of wheels 14 and 15, are handle members 28 and 29 of handleassembly 13.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, handle assembly 13 is providedwith a first cable operated spring-loaded latching mechanism 30 mountedto cross member 32 of handle assembly 13. Short upper cover segment 24of bucket 12 is provided with at least first and second latch blocks 34and 35 respectively adapted for engagement by the tongue 36 of firstspring-loaded latching mechanism 30.

First spring-loaded mechanism 30 is adapted to lock handle assembly 13in a first latched position relative to bucket 12 as shown in FIG. 1when engaged with first latch block 34, or a second latched position asshown in FIG. 2 when engaged with second latch block 35. Firstspring-loaded latching mechanism 30, is controlled by a first leverassembly 38 and a first cable 39, attached to first handle member 28. Ascan be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, first spring loaded latching mechanism 30may be disengaged from either of the two latch blocks 34 or 35 so as toallow bucket 12 and handle assembly 13 to assume the relative positionsshown in FIG. 6.

Rear discharge door 20 is hinged proximate its upper edge 21 aboutpivots 40 and 41 mounted in respective opposite sides 16 and 17 ofbucket 12. A second cable operated spring-loaded latching mechanism 42(best seen in FIG. 3) mounted at the lower edge 44 of rear dischargedoor 20, is adapted to allow the release of rear discharge door 20 froma normally closed position locked to the bottom 18 of the bucket 12, andis controlled similarly by a second lever assembly 46 and second cable47 attached to second handle member 29.

In Use

It will be seen from FIG. 6 that when bucket 12 is unlatched from handleassembly 13, front lip 48 rests on the ground surface 50 and bottom 18is only slightly inclined to surface 50, sufficient to leave rear loweredge 23 of bucket 12 clear of surface 50. By applying a forward force athandle assembly 13, bucket 12 acts as a scoop to at least partially fillthe bucket from a heap of material 52. Alternatively, or additionally,material 52 may be readily scraped or raked into the bucket 12 withoutthe need for any lifting or shovelling of the material to betransported.

Once a desired load has been gathered into bucket 12, the handleassembly 13 is rotated upwardly about the pivot axes of wheels 14 and 15and the handle assembly 13 latched to the bucket 12 by engagement of thefirst spring-loaded latching mechanism 30 with the first latch block 34.In this position, relatively little downward force applied at the end ofthe handle assembly 13 will bring the bucket 12 into the attitude shownin FIG. 7. The handle assembly 13 is then approximately horizontal sothat the outer ends of handle members 28 and 29 are adjacent the waistlevel of an average user, with the bottom 18 of bucket 12 inclined so asto securely retain the material in bucket 12. In this position thedevice allows the load of material to be easily wheeled to a point ofdestination.

When it is desired to discharge the load in bucket 12, the secondspring-loaded mechanism 42 is activated to release rear discharge door20 from its locked closed position, allowing it to swing rearward asshown in FIG. 8. Because of the slope of the bottom 18 of bucket 12, thematerial it contains will readily slide rearward and discharge throughdoor 20.

To aid in discharging the material if required, the second latchingposition of the handle assembly 13 relative to bucket 12 afforded bysecond latch block 35, may be utilised as shown in FIG. 8 to increasefurther the slope of bottom 18. It will be obvious that the slope of thebottom 18 of bucket 12 may be made quite steep by inclining the handleassembly 13 further downward from that shown in FIG. 8. The device 10can simply be wheeled forward as the discharge proceeds to allow all thematerial 52 to exit through rear discharge door 20.

When all material has been discharged, the device is tilted back to aposition approximating that of FIG. 1 which allows the rear dischargedoor 20 to resume its locked closed position, for example by pushing thedoor closed with a foot of the user, and the device is ready for a nextloading and transporting cycle.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention andmodifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made theretowithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

For example whilst only a first spring loaded latching mechanism 30 isillustrated it may be required that more than one such mechanism isutilised in order to spread the latching load eg where the anticipatedloading will be high. In this instance the single latching mechanism 30shown in FIG. 5 could, for example, be replaced by a first and secondlatching mechanism mounted in spaced apart relationship mounted on crossmember 32 and adapted for engaging with corresponding spaced apart latchblocks 34.

1. A wheeled load transfer device comprising a load containing member, ahandle assembly and a pair of wheels affixed at opposite sides of saidload containing member; said load containing member open at a firstloading end and provided with a rear discharge door; said device adaptedfor scooping movement along a ground surface. The device of claim 1wherein said load containing member comprises opposing side portions, abottom portion and a rear end; said rear end provided with said reardischarge door.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said rear dischargedoor is pivotally hinged proximate an upper edge of said discharge door.3. The device of claim 2 wherein each wheel of said pair of wheels ismounted to a respective wheel axle housing affixed to respective saidopposing side portions; said wheels having a common axis.
 4. The deviceof claim 3 wherein said handle assembly comprises first and secondhandle members and at least one cross member; said first and secondhandle members pivotally connected to respective said wheel axlehousings.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said handle assembly ispivotable about axes of said pair of wheels; said handle assemblypivotable between at least one fixed position latched to said loadcontaining member and unlatched positions.
 6. The device of claim 1wherein said handle assembly is provided with a first latchingmechanism; said first latching mechanism adapted to releasably lock saidhandle assembly into said at least one fixed position relative said loadcontaining member.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said rear dischargedoor is provided with a second latching mechanism; said second latchingmechanism adapted to releasing said rear discharge door from a closedload retaining position to an open load discharge position.
 8. Thedevice of claim 8 wherein each said first latching mechanism and saidsecond latching mechanism are operable by respective lever assembliesand respective first and second cables; said lever assemblies mounted torespective said handle members.
 9. The device of claim 7 wherein, whensaid first latching mechanism is released from engagement with said loadcontaining member, a front lip of said load containing member is incontact with a supporting ground surface supporting said device, andwherein said bottom portion is at a slight upward inclination to saidsurface; said inclination sufficient to provide clearance between a rearlower edge of said load containing member and said supporting groundsurface.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein said device may be urged intoa scooping motion so as to load material from a volume of said materialdisposed on said ground surface, into said load containing member;loading of said material effected without need of hand held implements.11. The device of claim 7 wherein said first latching mechanism may bebrought into engagement with said load containing member by rotationupwardly of said handle assembly from said unlatched positions.
 12. Thedevice of claim 2 wherein said device is brought into an attitude fortransporting said material in said load containing member by rotationdownwardly of said handle assembly; outer ends of said handle assemblythen at a height proximate the waist of an average user; said bottomportion of said load containing member then inclined downwardly so as tosecure said material within said load containing member.
 13. The deviceof claim 8 wherein said material is discharged from said load containingmember by operating said second latching mechanism to release said reardischarge door from said closed load retaining position to an opendischarge position.
 14. The device of claim 7 wherein said loadcontaining member is provided with an upper partial cover segment; saidcover segment provided with a second latching element adapted toreleasably engage with said first latching mechanism thereby to locksaid handle assembly into a second fixed position relative said loadcontaining member; said second fixed position adapted to provide agreater angle of downward inclination of said bottom portion of saidload containing member during discharge of said material.
 15. A methodfor loading and transporting material by means of a wheeled loadtransfer device; said method not requiring use of a spade or shovel orother hand held implement; said method including the steps of: (a)unlatching a load containing member of said device from a lockedposition relative a handle assembly so as to rotate said load containingmember into a scooping position relative said handle assembly, (b)urging said load containing member against a volume of material disposedon a supporting ground surface so as to load at least a portion of saidmaterial into said load containing member, (c) rotating said handleassembly upwardly to a latched fixed position relative said loadcontaining member, (d) rotating said handle assembly downwardly to bringouter portions of said handle assembly proximate the waist of an averageuser, (e) wheeling said transfer device to an unload destination, (f)unlatching a rear discharge door from a first locked position to rotateto a second open discharge position.
 16. (canceled)
 17. The device ofclaim 2, wherein said rear discharge door is pivotally hinged proximatean upper edge of said discharge door.
 18. The device of claim 3 whereineach wheel of said pair of wheels is mounted to a respective wheel axlehousing affixed to respective said opposing side portions; said wheelshaving a common axis.
 19. The device of claim 2, wherein said handleassembly is pivotable about axes of said pair of wheels; said handleassembly pivotable between at least one fixed position latched to saidload containing member and unlatched positions.
 20. The device of claim3, wherein said handle assembly is pivotable about axes of said pair ofwheels; said handle assembly pivotable between at least one fixedposition latched to said load containing member and unlatched positions.21. The device of claim 4, wherein said handle assembly is pivotableabout axes of said pair of wheels; said handle assembly pivotablebetween at least one fixed position latched to said load containingmember and unlatched positions.